By using your office phone system to take advantage of features such as voice mail and call forwarding. You will be able manage all incoming calls and direct callers to correct department. By implementing a multi line office phone system, your customers will be able to call on more than one line, increasing efficiency of your office. You can even set up some office phone systems with distinctive ring tones, again allowing you to direct certain callers to other departments within your company.

The way we make phone calls is changing. In fact in many circumstances things have already changed. Take long distance calls for instance, many service providers are already using a technology called Voice Over IP or VOIP for short. If you have never heard of VOIP before, then following article will change way you think about how long distance phone calls are being made now, and about how all phone calls will be made in future. Voice Over IP (VOIP) is a method for turning analogue audio signals into digital data that can be transferred over internet.

You may be asking yourself how this is useful. Well think about it for a few seconds. If it is possible to turn analogue signals into digital data, then VOIP can turn a standard internet connection into a method for placing phone calls anywhere in world virtually free, except for your internet service fee, enabling you to bypass phone companies entirely.

Voice Over IP (VOIP) has potential to completely revolutionise way worlds phone systems operate. There are many VOIP service providers that have been around for a while, and are growing steadily. Now worlds leading telecommunications operators are waking up to endless possibilities of this new technology, setting up VOIP calling centres around world and promoting sales of Voice Over IP phone systems.

Making a call

With VOIP phone systems it is possible to make a call in one of three ways:

ATA (gateway) – The simplest way to make a VOIP phone call is through use of ATA’s (analogue telephone adaptor) sometimes called gateways. These devices enable you to make use of your existing standard analogue phones. You simply plug your standard handset into ATA (gateway) then connect ATA to your computer or your internet connection, enabling you to make VOIP calls. An ATA takes analogue signal from your standard phone and turns it into a digital signal that ready for transmission over internet. Some ATA’s (gateways) come with additional software that is loaded onto a host computer, enabling you to configure it for VOIP accurately.

IP Phones – These handsets look just like normal standard handsets. They have an RJ 45 Ethernet connector instead of standard RJ 11 connectors. These phones have all necessary software and hardware to handle VOIP calls already built in them. They connect directly to your router, providing a very fast and cost effective entry into world of Voice Over IP.

Computer to computer – This is easiest way to make use of VOIP technology. There are many companies offering cost effective software that you can use for this type of VOIP. Usually only charge you pay is monthly one from your internet service provider, even for long distance calls. All you need is a microphone, speakers, a suitable sound card and a fast internet connection.

Chances are that you have already made a VOIP call without even realising it. The major phone companies already use VOIP to route thousands of long distance calls through a circuit switch and into an IP gateway. This is then received by a gateway at other end and then routed to another local circuit switch. More and more companies are installing VOIP phone systems, and technology will grow and grow until it finds its way into every business and household across globe.

VoIP Features

Because with VOIP you can make calls from anywhere you have access to a broadband connection, users can take their IP phones or ATA’s with them on trips and still have access to what is essentially their home phone.